Novel scene
Zhuge Liang Tearfully Executes Ma Su 孔明揮淚斬馬謖
About this event
"Zhuge Liang Tearfully Executes Ma Su" is the former scene of the chapter title of Chapter 96 of the Romance, "Zhuge Liang Tearfully Executes Ma Su; Zhou Fang Cuts His Hair to Deceive Cao Xiu." It covers the story up to the point where Zhuge Liang, back in Hanzhong, beheads Ma Su, who lost Jieting, according to military law despite Jiang Wan's attempt to stop him, weeps bitterly, and then asks to be demoted three grades himself and comes to act as Chancellor as General of the Right. The Romance dates Ma Su's death to the 5th month, in summer, of the 6th year of Jianxing (228). It is one episode of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. Romance, Ch. 96 §9–16
Chen Shou's text records the same affair. The Biography of Zhuge Liang in Records of Shu 5 records that Zhuge Liang put Ma Su to death to apologize to the troops and asked to be demoted three grades himself, and the record of Ma Su at the end of the Biography of Ma Liang in Records of Shu 9 records that Ma Su was imprisoned and died. Records, Shu 5 §33–34Records, Shu 9 §18
Course of events in the Records
Defeated at Jieting and left with no footing for an advance, Zhuge Liang took over a thousand households of Xi County with him, went back to Hanzhong, and put Ma Su to death to apologize to the troops. The record of Ma Su states that he was imprisoned and died, that Zhuge Liang shed tears for him, and that he was thirty-nine at his death. The biography of Wang Ping records that Zhuge Liang put to death Ma Su and the generals Zhang Xiu and Li Sheng, took away the troops of the general Huang Xi and others, and promoted Wang Ping, who alone had kept his troops together, to Army Adviser. Xiang Lang, who had been close to Ma Su, knew the circumstances when Ma Su fled but did not report him, and was removed from office. Records, Shu 5 §33Records, Shu 9 §18Records, Shu 13 §36Records, Shu 11 §14
In a memorial, Zhuge Liang said that the fault of disobeyed orders at Jieting and the error of unpreparedness in the Ji Valley both lay with him for appointing the wrong men, and, as the Spring and Autumn Annals hold the commander responsible, he asked to be demoted three grades himself. He was accordingly made General of the Right, acting as Chancellor, and kept his command as before. Zhao Yun, defeated in the Ji Valley, was also demoted to General Who Guards the Army. Records, Shu 5 §33–34Records, Shu 6 §41
In the Romance
In Chapter 96 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang, back in Hanzhong, praises Zhao Yun, who has returned without losing a single man or horse, as a true general and grants him gold and silk, but Zhao Yun declines, saying the army has earned no merit. Next, Wang Ping reports that he remonstrated two or three times but Ma Su would not listen. Romance, Ch. 96 §3–8
To Ma Su, who comes having bound himself, Zhuge Liang says that had he listened to Wang Ping this disaster would not have happened and that unless military discipline is upheld the troops cannot be made to obey, and he promises to provide for Ma Su's wife and children every month. When Jiang Wan, arriving from Chengdu, regrets the killing of a minister of strategy, Zhuge Liang replies that Sun Wu won because he applied the law clearly, and beheads Ma Su. Then, receiving Ma Su's head, he weeps loudly and says that he weeps remembering the late emperor's warning that Ma Su's words exceeded his substance and that he should not be given great responsibility. Romance, Ch. 96 §9–14
Zhuge Liang submits a memorial asking to be demoted three grades, saying that the faults at Jieting and in the Ji Valley were his, and the Later Ruler, following the advice of the Palace Attendant Fei Yi, demotes him to General of the Right, acting as Chancellor. When Fei Yi congratulates him on taking four counties and gaining Jiang Wei, Zhuge Liang replies that to gain and then lose is the same as not gaining, and that the failing lies not in the number of troops but in the commander, and asks that his own faults be criticized. Romance, Ch. 96 §14–19
Where the Romance differs
Ma Su's death: In Chapter 96 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang rejects Jiang Wan's plea, has Ma Su beheaded outside the camp gate and receives his head. The record of Ma Su in the Records states that Ma Su was imprisoned and died, and that Zhuge Liang shed tears for him. Romance, Ch. 96 §11–12Records, Shu 9 §18
Zhao Yun's merit and fault: In Chapter 96 of the Romance, Zhao Yun is praised and rewarded by Zhuge Liang for not losing a single man or horse. In the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records, Zhao Yun was defeated in the Ji Valley and demoted to General Who Guards the Army, and Zhuge Liang's memorial also cited the error of unpreparedness in the Ji Valley. Romance, Ch. 96 §3–5Records, Shu 6 §41Records, Shu 5 §33
Those punished: In Chapter 96 of the Romance, only Ma Su is beheaded. The biography of Wang Ping in the Records states that the generals Zhang Xiu and Li Sheng were also put to death and that the troops of Huang Xi and others were taken away, and Xiang Lang was dismissed for not reporting Ma Su's flight though he knew of it. Romance, Ch. 96 §9–12Records, Shu 13 §36Records, Shu 11 §14
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.